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Chapter 211: Carlton’s Arrival
🕑 Added 2024-09-19 06:21:40 +0000 UTCHenck frowned as he looked at Felix. “Are you sure about this information? Is the remote southwestern border really worth the attention of a Saint-level expert?”
Felix shrugged. “Who knows? I only heard it from someone else. Maybe they’re just playing on the exact kind of doubt you’re expressing.”
Rhett furrowed his brows. This rumor had even spread to the capital? That was unexpected.
He recalled that Commander Avalan of the Canyon Defense Line had mentioned that the matter of the traitor had been reported to the royal family, but the news had still leaked. It was as if an unseen hand was stirring things up from behind the scenes, shrouded in mist.
Suddenly, Rhett felt that the situation was becoming increasingly complicated.
Fortunately, in his most recent simulation, nothing unusual had been revealed. After a brief consideration, he decided to put this matter aside for now.
The three of them sat down and began to chat casually.
Rhett and Henck asked Felix about the specifics of life in the capital. They weren’t entirely uninformed, but Felix had far more detailed knowledge.
As Felix explained, a mix of admiration and regret filled his eyes.
He described how the capital was a city of extreme prosperity, but beneath that glamorous surface lay coldness and indifference.
Although Felix was an alchemist, which put him in a better position than most, he still found himself suffocating under various pressures.
The heavy workload of alchemy, his own meditation and cultivation, dates with girls (which always required spending money), the burden of housing prices in the capital, and so on...
Facing all of this for a long time, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair.
As a low-level alchemist, he wasn’t particularly valued in the capital, where there was no shortage of talent. The only advantage was that the capital offered better conditions for improving his alchemy skills.
But the same could be said for everyone else. Most alchemists were improving, which only led to price wars and competition. More effort yielded only minimal increases in income.
As he recounted his experiences, Felix couldn’t help but feel a wave of bitterness. If it hadn’t been for the drive for revenge, he might not have been able to endure it all.
Henck was deeply moved and patted Felix’s leg. “Brother, you’ve been through so much, struggling on your own in the capital. It must have been incredibly tough.”
Felix stared at his empty teacup, and after finally venting his years of pent-up frustration, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Are you planning to go back?” Henck asked, refilling Felix’s cup.
Felix hesitated. “I took an extended leave before I left…”
“So, you didn’t leave anything valuable there?” Henck asked again.
“Exactly. The alchemy equipment I used there all belonged to the guild or the organization I worked for,” Felix confirmed with a nod.
Henck wrapped his arm around Felix’s shoulder, laughing. “Then what’s the point of going back? In the capital, every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. Even if you have money, it’s no guarantee you can buy a place—connections matter just as much. No matter how hard you work, you might never meet the requirements.”
Henck’s words were harsh but true, and Felix didn’t try to save face. He nodded openly. “You’re right.”
Rhett remained composed, silently appreciating how Henck had already begun convincing his brother to stay.
“That’s the spirit.” Henck grinned, satisfied. “What do you think of the environment here? This tower?”
Felix glanced up at the pristine ceiling, deep in thought. “Hmm, it’s nice. I’ve seen paintings of the Ring Tower in the capital, and this tower gives off a similar vibe.”
“So why not stay here in the southwestern borderlands? Stay in our homeland, where we belong.” Henck looked directly at Felix.
Felix was tempted and fell silent.
“If you’re unsure where to go, join us at the Alchemy Tower! I’m sure Lord Rhett wouldn’t mind having another alchemist on board, especially one who’s nearly as skilled as me,” Henck urged sincerely.
Rhett’s heart skipped a beat. He set down his teacup and said, “Darkhawk City is in desperate need of talent, Felix. You’ve honed your skills in the capital, and I’d be honored to have you join us.”
Felix was touched by the sincerity in Rhett’s gaze.
After a few more earnest words from Rhett, Felix’s resolve wavered.
“Lord Rhett, I am willing to serve you!” Felix said softly.
He could see it clearly—if he was going to stay in the southwestern borderlands, there was no better or safer option than working for Rhett.
Given their special relationship, there was no reason to refuse.
After all, he hadn’t left any significant possessions in the capital. He had gone there for revenge, not to put down roots.
As for his romantic partners in the capital, well, they had only been casual relationships, driven by mutual needs. They had no emotional foundation.
Rhett arranged for Felix’s quarters to be next to Henck’s, with their alchemy labs close by as well.
Once everything was in order, Rhett left the room.
“Henck, you’d better clarify something. What do you mean by saying I’m only second to you in alchemy? I’ve studied in the capital—I’m definitely better than you. You should explain that to Lord Rhett.”
“Felix, humility is a virtue. The capital may be impressive, but now that you’re working for Lord Rhett, let me show you something. Honestly, your skills don’t impress me at all…”
Not long after leaving, Rhett heard their bickering and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Regarding the matter of the spirits, Rhett decided to keep Felix in the dark for now, as per the plan. As for the so-called wind-element spirit bearer, he didn’t feel any urgent need to pursue a partnership.
Walking along the gravel path, surrounded by the fragrance of various flowers, Rhett leisurely made his way back to the manor.
Passing by the training grounds, Rhett glanced over and happened to see Unika with her head bowed, seemingly being scolded by Macauf.
“Unika, falling in love at your age isn’t necessarily a good thing,” Macauf said, shaking his head. He looked at her auburn hair and spoke earnestly.
“Your talent doesn’t compare to Lawrence’s—it’s not even close. He’s managed to break through to a second-level knight in just two years, while you should feel fortunate just to have become a first-level mage.”
Unika looked up weakly. “But what does that matter?”
“Of course, it matters!” Macauf said, exasperated. “How long have you known Lawrence? How much time have you actually spent together? How many experiences have you shared? You haven’t faced any hardships together, and you’ve barely shared any significant moments. So, how can you claim to understand his true nature or character?”
“I don’t think Lawrence is a bad person!” Unika pouted.
“I never said Lawrence was a bad person,” Macauf replied with a meaningful smile. “But a firefly drawn to the light can’t see what lies behind it…”
Unika blinked, feeling confused by the deep metaphor.
“My dear student, I’m not against you pursuing love. I just want to warn you that impulsiveness in love often leads people astray. Until you’re more mature and wise, the best thing you can do is focus on yourself.”
Macauf was doing his best to fulfill his duties as a mentor, offering advice with patience.
Unika didn’t know how to respond.
Macauf continued, “I’ve noticed for a while that you’ve been drawn to Lawrence’s charm. It’s normal for a young girl to have a crush. But can you guarantee that he values you as much as you value him? Love is about mutual effort. All I see is you taking the initiative, chasing after him, while the spotlight rarely shines on you. That’s why I wouldn’t let you take the day off to visit Darkhawk City. You were planning to see Lawrence, weren’t you?”
Unika, half-understanding, pouted. “Macauf, you’ve figured it out already. Fine, I won’t go.”
Macauf smiled, his expression softening. “Remember, love yourself, cherish life, and only then can you truly love someone else.”
The more Macauf spoke, the more overwhelmed Unika felt. She furrowed her brow and said, “I think I’ll just go practice Water Ball.”
With that, she walked away and began practicing her magic against a target.
Macauf watched her for a while, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, before slowly leaving the training grounds.
“Hey, Macauf, you’re pretty good at teaching students.”
A voice suddenly came from behind.
Macauf hadn’t noticed Rhett’s presence. He turned quickly. “Rhett? Were you eavesdropping? Oh, sneaking around isn’t a good habit for a lord.”
“Who’s eavesdropping? I was just walking through my territory and happened to overhear someone badmouthing my brilliant knight,” Rhett retorted with a smirk.
Macauf chuckled, stroking his chin. “I wasn’t badmouthing Lawrence. In fact, I’m helping him. They’ll both be your loyal followers. If they don’t end up together, that outcome won’t be good for them or for you, right? I’m doing you a favor!”
“Oh? So I should thank you?” Rhett raised an eyebrow.
“Between brothers, thanks would be too formal. How about treating me to a drink at the Nightingale Tavern?” Macauf suggested with a grin.
“You should have Lawrence buy you that drink,” Rhett replied, rolling his eyes.
In the following days, Rhett focused most of his energy on comprehending the mysteries of the elements.
He hadn’t forgotten that in the simulation, it was mentioned that he successfully grasped the Condensation Profundity during his battle with Hogus.
To Rhett, this was both surprising and expected.
The profundities of the elements are interconnected, much like the various relationships between all things in the world. The Earth-element’s Dissipation Profundity and Condensation Profundity are particularly unique.
When one’s understanding of one profundity reaches a certain level, the rules of the universe naturally guide them to comprehend the other. It’s like walking along the equator and eventually seeing the same scenery from a different perspective.
Despite nearly two weeks of effort, Rhett made no progress in understanding the Earth element’s profundities. He felt like he was treading water, unable to advance.
This was normal. True growth takes time, and patience is required to accumulate knowledge and experience.
On a vast grassland, a caravan was slowly moving across the soft ground.
As they neared Darkhawk City, Carlton ordered his knights to slow down.
He gazed at the tall, broad city walls ahead and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
“As expected of an Earth-element mage, these walls seem to grow straight out of the ground, naturally blending with the earth. The color is pristine, and the walls are even more impressive than those of Twilight City.”
One of the knights said, “Yes, the walls stretch as far as the eye can see. This city must be much larger than Twilight City.”
Carlton chuckled. “And rightly so. A fifth-level mage, who is bound to achieve even greater heights in the future, naturally deserves a city of this size.”
Another knight added, “President, you seem to have a high opinion of Earl Rhett?”
“Of course. A merchant’s most important skill is the ability to invest wisely for the long term. The southwestern border is destined to become remarkable, thanks to Earl Rhett,” Carlton said softly.
The surrounding knights exchanged glances, surprised by how highly Carlton rated Earl Rhett.
At the gates of Darkhawk City, Carlton’s sharp eyes scanned the knights on guard, particularly assessing their strength.
He noticed only one second-level knight, with the rest being apprentice knights.
Silently evaluating the situation, he thought to himself that Earl Rhett’s power and title had risen too quickly, and his foundation hadn’t yet caught up. Even Twilight City’s guards were stronger than those here in Darkhawk City.
Suddenly, Carlton’s gaze locked onto one of the knights standing further back. His pupils constricted.
“It’s him?!”
Lawrence’s youthful yet handsome face instantly triggered Carlton’s memory.
He clearly remembered seeing this knight during his last visit to Hawk’s Nest, when he delivered aquatic magical beasts to Earl Rhett. At that time, the knight had only been an apprentice…
As a merchant, Carlton had an excellent memory for people.
The sound of hooves suddenly quickened.
After briefly showing his credentials, Carlton entered the city. As he passed by Lawrence, he called out, “Hello there, handsome young knight.”
“You’re… President Carlton?” Lawrence responded, recognizing him vaguely.
“Indeed, we’ve met before. You remind me of my nephew. May I ask your age?”
Lawrence, holding his sword and shield, replied, “I’ll be 16 after my next birthday. Is there something you need?”
Carlton chuckled, not holding back his praise. “What a young genius you are…”
He walked to the back of his carriage and retrieved a golden longsword, personally bringing it to Lawrence.
“I’m sure you’ve earned the favor of Earl Rhett. As his good friend, I’d like to give you this sword as a gift.”
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